04/15/2009

Associated Press

Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed former state lawmaker James Mathewson to a seat on the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Mathewson, 71, would serve until 2012 on the commission that regulates gambling. The Democrat from Sedalia spent six years in the Missouri House and 24 years in the Senate, including seven as the chamber's president pro tem.

Mathewson is the owner of Mathewson Broadcasting and is the former president of a real estate appraisal company.

The appointment was one of several announced Wednesday. All are subject to Senate confirmation.

Nixon appointed Anthony Thompson, of St. Louis County, to the state Board of Education, which establishes academic standards for public schools. The Democrat would serve on the board until 2012. Thompson, 48, is the president and CEO of Kwame Building Group, a construction firm.

Eric Rhone, 43, of St. Louis, was appointed to the state Tourism Commission. The Democrat would serve on the board until 2012. Rhone is the president and CEO of Visions Management Group, which manages careers for entertainers, including Cedric the Entertainer.

Nixon named Gregory Hayden, 55, and Thomas Heinsz, 61, to the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which finances housing for low- and moderate-income Missourians.

Hayden, of St. Louis, is the president of Luxemburg Realty Company and previously worked as a union carpenter. The Democrat would serve on the board until 2012.

Heinsz, of Wentzville, is the director of organizing for the Carpenters' District Council for the St. Louis area. The Democrat would serve until 2011.

Nixon also made the following appointments to the governing boards of four state universities:

_ Diza Eskridge, 67, of Weston, to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors. Eskridge, a Democrat and former Platte County Commissioner, would serve until 2014.

_ Daren Todd, 36, of Kennett, to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Todd, a Democrat who is a private attorney, would serve until 2015.

_ Mary Long, 61, of Kansas City, to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. Long, a Democrat and retired high school principal, would serve until 2011.

_ Thelma Cook, 69, of St. Louis, to the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents. Cook, a Democrat who serves on the boards of various non-profits, would serve until 2014.

_ Derek Collins, 24, of St. Louis, as the student representative to the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents. Collins, a Democrat, is majoring in business administration and is expected to graduate next spring. His term would end Dec. 31.